Sports
Flying Eagles Eye AYC Title
The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) yesterday said it would ensure that the Flying Eagles retained the forthcoming African Youth Championship trophy billed for Algeria in March.
The Chairman, NFA Media and Publicity Committee, Chief Emeka Inyama, made this known to newsmen in Abuja.
According to him, the Flying Eagles have been in camp for the past one month and have played series of friendly matches to prepare them for the competition.
“The NFF is resolutely committed to the Flying Eagles retaining the African Youth Championship which we won in South Africa in 2011, when hostilities commence in Algeria on March 16.
“You are of course aware that the Flying Eagles have been in camp for the past one month and have played a number of friendly matches and the team is now back in Abuja,’’ he added.
Inyama said that the Flying Eagles would play a friendly match against its Benin Republic U-20 counterparts on Saturday in Abuja.
He said that the team would depart for Cairo where it would play a series of friendly matches.
“NFA has arranged for the team to play two friendly matches against Algeria and Egypt on February 20 and February 22, respectively before moving to Tunisia for the final phase of its preparation.
He stressed that the Flying Eagles had been adequately prepared to defend the trophy and to also qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.
The chairman added that the team had been slated to play at the world-famous Toulon International Tournament in France coming up in May to prepare them for the world Cup in June.
Commenting on the U-17 national team, Golden Eaglets, he said they were the future of the senior team, adding that the association was taking their priorities very seriously.
Inyama said that the Eaglet would play two friendly matches against its Botswana counterparts in Calabar on March 3 and 5.
According to him, Botswana is in Group A of the African U-17 championship, which will hold in Morocco on April 13 to 27.
He said that the team would proceed to Aspire Academy for sports excellence in Qatar for a three week final training camp before flying into Morocco for the continental showpiece.
“We believe the Eaglets will not only qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates in October/November but also win the competition in Morocco.’’
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
